By WJBC Staff
PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs and Kane County Cougars played five full innings before rain ended Sunday’s game early with the Chiefs losing 3-0. The loss is Peoria’s third straight and drops the Chiefs to 1-3 in the second half and 34-38 overall in advance of a five-game road trip.
The game was scoreless through the first two innings as Chiefs starter Daniel Poncedeleon and Cougars starter Ethan Elias allowed two hits each before the game was delayed by rain for 36 minutes. The rain came with one out in the top of the third and after the delay both pitchers stayed in the game with Poncedeleon getting two quick outs to end the third.
The Cougars started the scoring against Poncedeleon in the fourth inning. Former Chief Ildemaro Vargas led off with a walk and moved to third on a single by Cody Regis. Vargas scored and Regis went to second on a single by Marty Herum to make it 1-0. Regis went to third when Colin Bray reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a single by Michael Perez to make it 2-0. Bray scored on a single by Henry Castillo to make it 3-0 Cougars.
Peoria’s best chance to score came in the bottom of the fourth when Oscar Mecardo led off with a single and stole second. However Elias got a pop up to right and two straight strikeouts to eliminate the threat as Mercado was stranded at second. After the Chiefs went in order in the fifth the rains came again the game was officially stopped after a 50 minute rain delay
Poncedeleon (6-2) took the loss after he pitched five innings and allowed three runs on eight hits and one walk, striking out three.
